Mercer County Couple Sentenced to Prison as Part of Federal Prescription Drug Crackdown
Co-Defendants Sold Approximately 2,000 Pills During Distribution Scheme

BECKLEY, WV—U.S. Attorney Booth Goodwin today announced that a Mercer County couple was sentenced to federal prison for illegally distributing prescription drugs. Jerry Poore, 44, of Bluewell, Mercer County, West Virginia, was sentenced to eight years and nine months in prison. His co-defendant, Jill Sells, 27, also of Bluewell, Mercer County, West Virginia, was sentenced to two and a half years in prison. Each defendant previously pleaded guilty in July. Poore and Sells admitted that from September 14, 2011, until October 11, 2011, they conspired together to obtain and sell oxycodone and oxymorphone in and around McDowell and Mercer Counties.

Poore and Sells admitted that they sold oxycodone to a person cooperating with authorities on several occasions during September and October 2011. Poore admitted that on September 14, 2011, he sold four oxycodone pills to an individual cooperating with authorities. The illegal pill transaction took place at the defendant’s residence in Maybeury, McDowell County, West Virginia. Sells admitted that on September 23, 2011, she sold four oxymorphone pills to an individual cooperating with authorities. The illegal pill transaction took place at the defendant’s Bluewell residence. Poore admitted that on September 28, 2011, he sold four oxymorphone pills to an individual cooperating with authorities. The transaction took place at the defendant’s Bluewell residence. On September 30, 2011, Poore and Sells aided and abetted each other in the distribution of eight oxycodone pills to an individual cooperating with law enforcement. Poore further admitted that on October 11, 2011, he sold 20 oxycodone pills to an individual cooperating with authorities. The transaction took place at the defendant’s Bluewell residence.

The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the West Virginia State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigations, and the Southern Regional Drug and Violent Crime Task Force. Assistant United States Attorney John File handled the prosecutions. The sentences were imposed by United States District Judge Irene C. Berger.

The prosecutions were brought as a part of the Bluefield Pill Initiative. The Bluefield Pill Initiative is a collaborative, multi-agency regional law enforcement effort designed to halt prescription drug trafficking in Mercer, McDowell, and Wyoming Counties. The Bluefield Pill Initiative is led by the Southern Regional Drug and Violent Crime Task Force, which includes the West Virginia State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation; the Mercer, McDowell, and Wyoming County Sheriff’s Departments; and the Bluefield and Princeton Police Departments.